John W. Wainwright

Flight leader 508th FS 404th FG flying P-47D Thunderbolts
6 kills in one mission on Spet. 28, 1944 awarded DSC.
Killed in flying accident July 7, 1945 Stuttgard, Germany
Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) John H. Wainwright (ASN: 0-814799), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 508th Fighter Squadron, 404th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 28 September 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. While participating in a fighter sweep over enemy territory, the formation in which Second Lieutenant Wainwright was flying was attacked by a superior force of enemy fighters. Without support and completely disregarding the heavy odds against him, he attacked three enemy fighters that were making a determined attack on his flight leader and destroyed one of them. Thrown into a spin by the explosion of the enemy fighter, he regained control of his plane and brought down three more enemy aircraft. By this time, completely separated from his formation, he encountered two more enemy planes, outmaneuvered them, and as he was getting into position to fire, the enemy aircraft collided and were destroyed. Second Lieutenant Wainwright's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 4 (January 8, 1945)